FROM THE PULPIT
Ancient Words: Last Days, The Importance of Houses
Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house (Exo 12:3). The story began in Egypt with 70 and ended 430 years later with about 2 million. A plague is about to strike the great power of that time, Egypt, and effect the release of a captive nation, Israel. The plague will strike the firstborn of man and beast—-but to all who are in their homes with a lamb—-the plague of death will pass over. Specific instructions are given for this Passover night. Most important is that the blood of the slain lamb be painted on the two doorposts and overhead post of every house in the land of Goshen where Israel resides in their individual homes.
For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD (Exo 12:12). The judgment of God is certain and final. There is no turning back. There is no discussion. There is no time for a plea. Egypt would be crushed as a nation in one night, this night, Passover night, when an angel of death left the throne of God to carry out God’s message.
And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt (Exo 12:13). The blood was the saving factor. Maybe a million homes, had the blood of a million lambs painted outside for the angel to see. The last days of Egypt as a power would now be over because of the blood. The last days of Israel as a slave would also now be over because of that same blood. Salvation entered the homes of every Israelite as the plague of death passed over.
And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever (Exo 12:14). A plague has covered the world bringing death to thousands and the interruption of a global economy. The order is now to remain in your homes as much as possible until the plague passes over. Sunday church assemblies are dismissed around the globe yet our houses now have the opportunity to become our house of worship, our house of safety, our house of salvation, as we “paint” the blood of Christ on our home “doorposts”.
Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning (Exo 12:21-22).
Should we marvel that the house of the Israelite was their safe haven with the blood of the lamb in plain view? “….Choose you this day whom ye will serve…As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” —Jos 24:15
Scott and Jane Johnson minister with East Faulkner Church of Christ and BRG Bible. Bible questions ca be sent to the brgbible@gmail.com. “BRG Bible NT Printed copies may be ordered at www. amazon.com.”
Clean Hands
It’s been a couple of weeks since I have written because I was away on vacation. As you may know while I was gone we at The Salvation Army got some unfortunate news that one of our key administrative staff tested positive for Covid 19. With that being said, for the safety of our staff, volunteers and those we serve we have had to quarantine for 14 days which has been so difficult because there are so many in need of our services.
I try to be as transparent as I can and sometimes that makes me vulnerable, but I want to be very candid today. Our world, our community and our families have been attacked by this “new” disease Covid 19 or Coronavirus. What’s interesting to me is that it can’t be that new because someone showed me that on the back of a Lysol canister it is mentioned, and that canister was 2 years old.
Regardless of that fact, the virus is here and many people are being affected, effected and infected. What is interesting to me is what we are being told to do to combat it. How can we help stop spreading it? That’s right, washing our hands! We have been taught this simple and basic technique since we were children! In every rest room at every gas station, restaurant and retail store there is a sign that serves as a reminder that “employees must wash their hands before returning to work.” I have to be honest, how can something this simple be overlooked? How and why must we be reminded to to do this?
I am not making light of this subject but I will say this, in the past few weeks I think I have washed quite a few layers of skin off my hands, my face and the rest of my body. I know that we teach children to sing the alphabet song while they wash their hands to ensure that they wash for at least 20 seconds. I don’t know about you, but here lately I have found myself singing all the verses to “Amazing Grace”, “How Great Thou Art” and “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” to make sure that I get my wash time in!
Seriously though, how sad that we have to be reminded of the basic truths and routines that we were taught as children. Scripture even reminds us of the importance of clean hands.
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”
James 4:7-10 NIV Pray for our world, our community and each other. We will get through this by His grace and Providence! Our God is alive and well!
Captain Jason Perdieu is corp officer of the Salvation Army of El Dorado.